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WELLINGTON - Graham Henry has coached his last All Blacks team, a Super 14 rugby coach says.
New Zealand's recent World Cup history suggested there will be a cleanout of the All Blacks team officials, although the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) may continue with one of Henry's assistants, he said
Though Henry didn't give any indication about his future today after New Zealand's worst Cup record, Henry will do the "only honourable option open to him" and resign, the coach said.
At least two of the five New Zealand Super 14 coaches spoken to by NZPA today didn't want to be named for fear of repercussion as they were under NZRU contracts.
Though both were guarded in their comment, they said a lack of meaningful lead-up matches caused the All Blacks exit after they lost 18-20 to France in Cardiff today.
One of the Super 14 coaches said Crusaders coach Robbie Deans was a strong contender to take over from Henry but wasn't sure whether Henry's assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith would go as well.
He said the NZRU may retain one of them so that mistakes in team preparation weren't repeated.
In discussions with All Black team officials regarding their approach to the Cup, at least three Super 14 coaches favoured the All Blacks playing the full Super 14 competition and part of the Air NZ Cup, one of them said.
Henry and his fellow team officials had discussed the All Blacks' playing issues with Super 14 and some provincial coaches collectively and individually both last year and this year.
Henry had outlined some of their strategies to the Super 14 coaches who had no input in them.
"We are all hurting today and I feel for the players and the team officials because they will be the ones hurting the most today," one of the Super 14 coaches said.
"Reflection is a great thing and we all can say we told you so, but I don't think this is the time for that, not until all the parties - players coaches, administrators and the others involved in the campaign - sit down and discuss what may have gone wrong to make sure we don't repeat the mistakes.
"We, and when I say we - the Super 14 coaches - were surprised the players were going to be out of match play for so long before the World Cup. We only listened to them and did what they asked of us. I think we all co-operated.
"But they did assure us that the camps they had, the individual programmes given to the players and training they had designed, were going to be sufficient.
"Obviously it didn't take us where we're supposed to go, which is all the way to the final and beyond, everyone knows that."
Leading NZRU officials were in Europe for the tournament.
"I think he (Henry) will step down. It's the honourable thing to do and history does indicate there is going to be a fresh start next year.
"We don't know if all three (the other two being Smith and Hansen) will also throw it in. The thing about a completely new set-up is that there won't be any continuity and our mistakes can be repeated."
The Super 14 coach said a sticking point with him was Henry's insistence at continuing with injured players such as Sione Lauaki, Conrad Smith, Keith Robinson and Greg Somerville, who had played little or no rugby for three months, before heading off to the cup.
The All Blacks were allowed to play only the second half of the Super 14, while injured players coming back were allowed a maximum of three Air NZ Cup matches.
Most of the team had played their last game in July.
- NZPA
